In Another Universe

Wednesday 12:45 Pretty Girl

The music was booming, coming from behind the stands. Apparently, it was supposed to help people concentrate. Except for competitions, when it was more for the guests than the actual athletes. Said athletes were in the water, getting warmed up with some exercices their instructor was giving them from the side of the pool. The girl swimming team was training for their upcoming competitions, and they appeared to be quite focused on the exercices.

Charlie, balancing his lunch on his laps, kept wondering how they weren't cold in their bathing suits. Everyone knows that swimming pool water isn't the warmest thing, especially the long, training kind of pool.

Eating his sandwich, trying not to look too bored, he knew the other guys weren't thinking about the temperature of the water. Just a glance at them and their slightly parted lips, their minds weren't exactly here. Jack was leaning forward, elbows on his knees and wide eyes. Charlie looked at him and looked back at the girls doing their exercices. He couldn't help but feel indifferent. He leaned on the bench behind him, his arm giving him some support. He thought of leaving but he knew that his friends would think it was weird.

A few minutes later, the training was done, and the girl grabbed their towels before leaving. The coach stopped the music before walking towards the boys.

"Okay, guys. Spectacle over. The pool is closing." He shook his head before heading to his office.

"Wow... does he really have to show everyone how gay he is?" Charlie said to William while packing his lunch.

William frowned before shrugging.

"Why would you care?" He asked, which made Charlie slightly panicked.

"I don't. I don't care. I was just saying."

He closed his bag and got up, following the others down the stairs. He shouldn't have said anything. What was William thinking about now? He didn't think this was violent, or even that mean... Maybe that's what you get for following a random person's advice on a random forum.

They left the pool and headed to the courtyard. Next to him, Jack and Thomas were still discussing the girls and how "incredible", Jack's word, they were. But a familiar face showed up in Charlie's vision.

Isaac was there, standing his front of him, his brown hair as messy as usual. At least this time, no girl was holding his hand. But Charlie knew that she was still out there, so he wasn't expecting much from this exchange.

"Hey!" Isaac said, cheerful and smiling. "How are you?"

"Hi..." Charlie answered while the others looked confused.

Charlie was uncomfortable. After all, he lied to his friends to be with the guy in front of them and none of them had any idea. Isaac's smile dropped slightly at his reaction, but he handed him something. His scarf.

"You forgot that on Friday," he said as Charlie took it.

"On Friday?" William asked, frowning.

Isaac read the panic in Charlie's eyes when Will asked the question. He didn't understand why exactly but he understood that they definitely didn't know where he was on Friday. And he didn't want to put him in a bad situation.

"Yeah... At the cafeteria," he answered with a nonchalant shrug, to which Charlie seemed to stop holding his breath. "That's yours, right?"

"Actually that's mine," William said, taking it from Charlie's hands.

"Okay... Well... see you another time."

Isaac walked away and Charlie knew what was coming.

"Who's that?" Jack asked.

"Some guy." He shrugged, fainting indifference. "He's in Charlotte's school play thing. Maybe I left the scarf on the table..."

Thomas nodded, as if it made total sense but he also didn't seem to care that much, while William looked at Charlie with a frown. But the later continued to walk towards his classroom and the others just followed.